§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Prime Minister (1) how many persons elected to the office of Member of Parliament, office holders and non-office holders, other than the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Prime Minister knew, prior to 4 pm on Friday 5 October, of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's intention to announce in October either a cut in base rates or entry into the exchange rate mechanism;
(2) whether she will institute a full leak inquiry into how information relating to the cut in base rates and exchange rate mechanism entry was known to individuals in the City of London more than one and a half hours prior to the statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer at 4 pm on Friday 5 October;
(3) how many civil servants knew prior to 4 pm on Friday 5 October of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's intention to announce in October either a cut in base rate or entry into the exchange rate mechanism.
§ The Prime MinisterOnly those with an operational need to know were informed prior to 4 pm on Friday 5 October of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's intention to announce a cut in base rates and the Government's decision to enter the exchange rate mechanism on Monday 8 October.
I have no evidence to suggest that information relating to the cut in base rates and entry in to the exchange rate mechanism was known to anyone in the City of London outside the Bank of England prior to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement. If the hon. Gentleman believes that he has such evidence he should make it available to the appropriate authorities.